According to the American Diabetes Association, over 6 million people in the U.S. have diabetes but don't know it because the early symptoms of diabetes can often be mistaken for other conditions. Early diabetes symptoms such as fatigue may pass unnoticed. Learning the early symptoms can help patients know when to make an appointment with their doctors to get their symptoms checked. Doctors confirm a diabetes diagnosis through blood and urine tests. Once confirmed, treatment includes lifestyle changes, diet modification, and either oral or injected prescription medication to control blood glucose levels.
Frequent Urination
According to the Family Doctor website, the earliest symptom of diabetes is frequent urination. In either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, blood glucose levels rise above normal due to insufficient insulin production (type 1) or cells no longer responding to insulin (type 2). As blood glucose levels rise, the kidneys work overtime to filter and remove the excess sugar through the urine. This causes frequent urination.
Extreme Thirst and Appetite
Extreme thirst and appetite are other early symptoms of diabetes. As urination increases, the body craves water to replace lost fluids. Patients may find themselves drinking glass after glass of water without slaking their thirst. Appetite also increases, especially for foods that cause a rise in blood sugar. Remember that in the early stages of diabetes, the body struggles to maintain normal blood glucose levels. But because there's either insufficient insulin to unlock the cells so that they can use the glucose, or cells no longer respond to insulin, glucose rises. The kidneys filter the blood and excrete the extra glucose through the urine. This can cause sudden drops in blood glucose levels which creates feelings of hunger and cravings for sweet foods.
Fatigue
Fatigue rounds out the list of early diabetes symptoms. Glucose provides the primary fuel for the body, especially the brain. When the body can no longer process glucose efficiently, cells are starved for energy. This causes the feelings of tiredness and weakness characteristic of the early stages of diabetes. According to the Mayo Clinic, both dehydration from excessive urination and the inability to use glucose contribute to fatigue symptoms.
